The 82 Kangeroos would wipe the floor with any team today.
Compare 1 to 13 with the current Aussie team and it's a no contest.
They probably can't wrestle as well as today's players but in terms of skill it is a no brainer.

It is of course impossible to compare era's.

For example would someone like schoey have knuckled down as a full time pro or would, regardless of talent he have been limited to lesser teams.

Also I think people underestimate how much the advances in fitness of conditioning of modern players. For example Inglis would literally be head and shoulders over any back from the 80s (even "big" mal) whilst also probably being quicker than most.

It's also not just GI. The likes of Watkins and Hall are also bigger than "big mal" yet in the 80s he stood out like some kind of monster.

That's the point I was making Omar. Its too easy to say a star of any era could make it in any other. Some from previous eras would simply not hack it because even with training etc they wouldn't be physically up to it. Suggesting some 13 stone forward from another era would be just as good today with an extra stone or so of muscle is plain silly. If you go back further there were 7 stone halfbacks around. Rob Burrow weighs 11 stone and is tiny.

Itchy - I disagree about skills. The 82 Roos were light years ahead of us at that time, but if you watch games from that era they were facing far weaker defences. Lewis was the only player with a long spin pass back then - now every halfback going can do it. I keep forgetting who makes this point around here, but the general skill level now is far higher than in 82 in terms of basic passing, and the defences are immeasurably better. I'd argue a fair few Roos of today would be in the 82 side - Slater, Inglis, Cam Smith and Thurston (yes I'd say he's better than Sterlo) for a start. Even from Leeds Hardaker and Watkins would be in as well, and probably both Briscoe and Hall.

Not one forward?
We will have to disagree.
A couple of points though - how would today's forwards cope with 8o minutes? I would take Maninga sterling Kenny Lewis Rogers Grothe Miles over any player in the modern era.
Just an opinion but obviously have great respect for Inglis Slater et al.
As an aside I thought Krillich (sp?) was superb and a fantastic captain and would always be in my all time 13.

As good as Krilich was as a leader, there were arguments in Australia at the time over whether he was their best hooker. Not the most mobile or the most skillful you'll ever see at the position by a distance, but the way the game was played at that time didn't demand him to be.

The likes of Wayne Pearce looked impressive because in terms of conditioning and athletic ability they were changing the template for what rugby league players looked like. Now back-rowers are expected to be like that. Similarly with Meninga and Miles redefining the physical template for centres, Grothe for wingers etc.

Great RL players would be great players in any era, regardless of weather they play the game now, or in the past. I do think the positions some players play, or played would be different because the skill set required in certain positions was very different then, and it's very different now.

As for the overall standard, I don't think the standards or skills have dropped at all. Where I think the game has changed is that players today have a lot less time on the ball, and less space to accurately execute there skills. When you look at the game from the 20th century what's noticeable is how 'broken' the defensive lines were, and how few players were involved in the tackle. Also, the likes of Andy Gregory used to crab across the field and looking for gaps, I think if he tried that so often in todays game he'd more often than not got smashed by the advancing defence. I'm not saying that he wouldn't have been a great player now, he was a very skilful player, but I do think he would have to adapt his game significantly to succeed, not to mention his lifestyle.

Personally, I love the game as much as ever. It's totally different to when I started watching it, but that doesn't mean it's not fun to watch. Granted there's some dross served up each week, but that's ALWAYS been the case in any sport.

He'd have to have learned to pass both ways without having to turn his back to the defensive line for a start...

Remember that in 82 Lewis & Rogers who were first choice halfbacks and who were both exceptional players ended up playing with the mid week team! It would be like Thurston and say Slater chosen to tour and not getting any caps whilst on tour. It just wouldn't happen despite the alledged strength in depth of superstars.
I am to a degree I know looking through rose tinted glasses however, that 82 team is the only team other my own that I actually went to see whenever I could they were that good. I went to all 3 test matches when the silence of the crowds at times was deafening when they cut the GB to ribbons and went to I think all other matches held in Lancashire on that tour.
A great team that arises once in a lifetime.

AG I remember at the time thinking who the bloody hell could better than Krillich!
I think Radonakuis( sp?) may have the favourite with the Aussie press to get the number 9 jersey?
I am a believer that a great captain can be the difference between a good team and a great team as Sinfield has shown over the last decade or so.

Queensland s Mark Murray came over as first choice scrum half, Steve Rogers was a centre

This is pretty much my view too.
It annoys me in RL because there is far too often a prevalent view that past players were utterly amazing compared to today's and that modern players are unskilled. I think it's incredibly unfair on today's players because I bet they'd love the time and space that was available in the past.
I think far too many people confuse better to watch with higher quality.

That's not to say past players shouldn't be revered and lauded, something I think RL as a whole is poor at is recognising its historical links. For instance I'd love a heritage round every year. Where each club produces a retro shirt and could put on events celebrating their past.

Yes you are correct.
I don't recall Murray but Rogers was indeed a centre.

We need to learn to shout far louder for ourselves.

Heritage round
Getting money back from Vichy Govt round
Support for RL prisoner in UAE round
First black GB captain round
Finally RL not banned in UK armed forces round
Times newspaper has ex England RL correspondent alongside all the other England international correspondents as advertised (for me anyway) on this forum round.
RL gives positive discrimination to homosexuals round (oops sorry, another topic).
Oh and magic weekend in Nottingham round. Would be so much more convenient and the stadiums are such a size that they would sell out.
Largest professional UK sport that ticket prices are affordable round?


We're too embarrassed to shout loud and proud about our sport. Just as long as it's not Harry Gration isn't doing it in a salmon jumper!

i just don't see any downsides to a heritage round. Each club seems to produce a 3rd shirt most years anyway now so why not make it a retro one.
Ideally I'd have started it off this year with it being 120 years since the sport was founded. Those clubs who are founder members have an obvious target for what they'd make their heritage be about this year.
I'd also be tempted to join it up with Sky. Instead of just a heritage round I'd give each club a separate heritage round, so say round 1 would be Leeds, round 3 Wigan etc. Get Sky to make a programme on each club and their history which could be shown in the days preceding that weekends game. If possible tie in the fixture list with the heritage rounds so if Leeds wanted to they could celebrate say the 68 Final v Wakey and so play Wakey in their heritage round. Really get behind the thing.

I'd have an armed forces round the week prior to the Magic Weekend. Where all the clubs would be encouraged to invite their local regiments and units. Then at the Magic Weekend I'd have an Army vs Navy game in between 2 of the SL games. Invite a load of servicemen & women along, they can fill in some of the empty seats.

We could do a healthy living round. In the build up to the games that weekend all the clubs engage with their local communities on healthy eating/exercise etc. Again get Sky to do a programme on one of the clubs they'll be showing that weekend on how the players stay fit and healthy, can show clubs conditioners etc. These kind of programmes cost sod all to make and fill up a nice segment for Sky. I reckon they'd be willing to make a few one-off programmes throughout the year.

At the moment all these kind of things are left up to individual clubs to do as and when and how they feel. So it's all a bit disjointed and varies widely in the time and effort and professionalism put into it. But if the RFL started actually leading this sport then I think things like this could have an impact.

I'm glad to see Wigan are taking games to London, I just hope they come up with a consistent venue and time of year and stick with it. But it could do with RFL support too.

Greg Conescu was over as backup hooker and was regarded by some as having a more all-round game than Krilich.

I think maybe it is now

I recall many shooting GH down when he called this squad the best ever........shoot away now guys,

Yes to the original question ...
And Jamie Peacock the greatest ever player.

In context and "on paper" at the time did anyone on here see just how good Cuthbertson would be or that we'd sign Garbutt who would hit the ground literally like he'd played here all his life and become one of the form Props in the League?
GH aside which btw is his "sound bite" every year there were plenty on here saying it wasn't.
What they have proved is that this years vintage is the most successful in a SL season and what a privlage it has been to see especially given the brand of RL we have played at times but then also having the heart and guts to be able to grind in the big games when looking down on numbers and energy.

a stopped clock is right twice a day

WRT the OP: without doubt.

Yes I think this side probably is...those last 3 weeks! Huddersfield, Saints and W*gan...astonishing stuff to witness.

We may never see their like again etc.

Yes

In my 30 years of watching yes.The 2015 season Will forever be a huge refference point in the Leeds history.I didn't think the 3 in a row could be topped but this does.The way it happened,just fairytale stuff. It doesn't get any better, so gonna soak it up for as long as possible

Couldn't agree more....I think it will take a long time to sink in. It really has been a phenomonal historical achievement....and we witnessed it. As you say the '3 in a row' was huge...but this !!! I have supported the club to varying levels for 37 years. To think at one time in the past I was happy when we won the Yorkshire cup at Elland Road with such favourites as Carl Gibson....and now this !!!